Trolley suspended playground device



y 1949. D. c. GRAZIER 2,469,069

TROLLEY SUSPENDED PLAYGROUND DEVICE Filed July 23, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/ .1. nun-.-

#E/L-AV pa/v c. GRAZ/ER A'ITCI RN EYS I N VEN TOR.

y 1949. D. c. GRAZIER 2,469,069'

TROLLEY SUSPENDED PLAYGROUND DEVICE Filed July 25, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'INVENTOR.

00/1 6. GRAZ/ER ATTD R N EYS Patented May 3, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TROLLEY SUSPENDED PLAYGROUND DEVICE Don C. Grazier, Dixon, Mont.

Application July 23, 1947, Serial No. 763,092

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a playground device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a playground device for children which will satisfy their dream of flight and to provide an airplane device which will traverse a line extended between two points, such as a clothes line, and wherein there is provided in a device a workable member so that the child can operate the same to propel himself across the line from one end to the other.

It is another object of the present invention to provide .a playground device in the form of an airplane adapted to traverse a wire or line wherein the body part can be rotated upon its trolley so that it can be extended broadside toward the direction of travel or turned about for the return movement across the line.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device showing portions broken away to show the interior of the airplane body and the position of the occupant therewithin.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the driving mechanism as viewed from above the line.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged and cross-sectional view of the operating mechanism as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, in elevation, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the thrust or supporting bearing unit.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the cover plate for the bearing unit.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the supporting mechanism frame.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view, in elevation, taken on line 99 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the figures, [5 represents a line on which a supporting and driving mechanism I6 is placed. This supporting mechanism comprises a frame I! having a bottom part l8 with an opening l9 extending therethrough. The bottom part is enlarged at the center, Fi 8, and at the location having the opening l9. Extending upwardly from the bottom part and at opposite ends thereof are bifurcated portions 2| through which the line I5 extends. At the upper ends of each of the bifurcated portions and at opposite ends of the supporting mechanism I6 there are journalled pulley drive wheels 22 adapted to rest upon the line or cable l5. Each of the wheels 22 is fixed to a crank shaft 23 having a crank arm 24 thereon. The crank arms of the two wheels are connected together by a link 25 so that the pulley drive wheels are operated in unison.

Over the opening l9 there is extended a bracket 26 which is connected to the bottom part at its opposite ends as indicated at 21. Pivoted upon the bracket 26 as indicated at 28 is a long vertically extending member 29 which extends downwardly through the opening 19 to a location below the frame I1. On the lower end of the arm or lever 29 is a hoop formation which as indicated at 3| is extended about the passenger of an airplane-like body 32. The passenger is seated on a seat 33 intermediate the length of the body. As the arm or lever 29 is worked to and fro by the passenger the upper end will be reciprocated and inasmuch as it is connected by a connecting rod 34 with a crank arm 24, the wheels 22 will be worked across the line or cable 15.

Extending through the opening I9 is a sleeve 35 having loop formations 3'6 circumferentially spaced therearound. To these loop formations, there are connected rods or cables 31 which are in turn connected to the airplane-like body 32 at circumferentially spaced locations thereon as indicated at 3T.

The sleeve 35 has a top flange 38 with thrust bearings 39 therein. These thrust bearing units rest upon the bottom part [B in supporting relation between the flange and the sleeve thereon. Therefore any transmission of thrust due to the weight of the body 32 and the occupant therein is from the sleeve to the balls of the thrust bearing unit and then to the frame. A cover 4| fitted thereover and connected to the bottom part by bolts 42 protects the thrust bearings from damage or adverse weather conditions. The cover 4| has a hole 43 in its center through which the arm or lever 29 is extended.

Within the bifurcated portions 21 are retaining rollers 45 retained thereupon by a pin 46 whereby the wheels 22 will be kept in place on the top of the line l5, the rollers 45 engaging with the bottom of the line or cable.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A playground device comprising a supporting and propelling mechanism adapted to be supported upon a line and to be propelled thereover, said supporting and propelling mechanism including a substantially rectangular shaped frame, drive wheels journalled on the frame at each upper corner thereof and adapted to engage with thelineon cable, a leveridepen'ding from the frame and pivoted thereupon and adapted to effect rotation of the wheels, said lever beingconnected to the Wheels through a connecting mem be! and a. crank arm,'a :bodyrmember. adapted to support an occupant suspended fromflvzthe supporting mechanism, means for connecting the body member to the frame for rotation'aoout a vertical axis said connecting:meanssincluding a sleeve with a radially outwardly extending flange, thrust bearings mounted in the flange in -supporting relation between said frame and said it flange-on said sleeve whereby the transmission of the thrust'carried .bythe' Weight of the :body member and its occupant is from the sleeve to 'the balls to-the frame, cover means fixed torthe frame and extendingrover the frame for the pro+ tection thereof: and said lever extending toward 5" :Number vfileaof this patent:

the body to be accessible to the occupant'whereby as the lever is operated, the drive wheels will be rotated to cause the supporting and propelling mechanism to be actuated.

2. A playground device as defined in claim 1, and said lever having a hoop formation at'its lower end adapted to surround the occupant whereby to serve as a guard for him and to pro- Yidefa convenient graspingrportion.

I DON c. GRAZIER.

., REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Jenks Jan. 28, 1873 Dickey et al June 10, 1890 wart et almnfln uJunei13', 1911 SWain 4 d. 1.- soot; L4; 1921 FOREIGN Pi f-TENTS Country 1 K-Y- DM Switzerland --zsalulyd5 l899 

